Iranian, Lebanese parliament speakers urge Israeli withdrawal as "conflict control unit" sets up under Iran-US MoU

Iran and Lebanon have agreed to establish a "conflict control unit" involving the United States to monitor the implementation of a recently signed Iran-U.S. peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding Lebanon, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Sunday.

Ghalibaf, in a phone call with his Lebanese counterpart Nabih Berri, said the unit was decided after Iran's negotiating team highlighted violations by other parties during recent U.S.-Iran negotiations in Switzerland, according to Iran's ICANA news agency.

An end to the war in Lebanon, the return of displaced Lebanese, and Israel's withdrawal from occupied areas in Lebanon are important parts of Paragraph 1 of the MoU signed on June 18, Ghalibaf added.

Berri accused Israel of seeking to disregard Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity under the MoU, describing a U.S.-mediated framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel as "conspiracy and sedition."

Also on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei urged the earliest possible establishment of a timetable for Israel's "unconditional withdrawal" from occupied areas in Lebanon.

He said full implementation of Paragraph 1 of the MoU is an essential condition for reaching a final and lasting agreement to establish regional stability, read a ministry statement.

On Friday, Washington said Israel and Lebanon had reached a framework agreement for "lasting peace and security."

Earlier on Sunday, Lebanon's National News Agency said Israeli military activities continued across southern Lebanon, whereas Israeli sources said an Israeli military officer was killed and another soldier wounded in southern Lebanon by Hezbollah fire.

Iranian, Lebanese parliament speakers urge Israeli withdrawal as "conflict control unit" sets up under Iran-US MoU

Canadian soccer fans face a World Cup dilemma as they weigh whether to follow the national team to the United States for the knockout rounds or stay home as cross-border tensions complicate travel. Canada played all three of its group-stage matches at home. After advancing to the round of 32 as the group runner-up, the team is heading to Los Angeles to become the first host country in World Cup history to play a knockout match abroad. Fans must now decide whether to support the team in person or avoid crossing the border.

"I know a lot of people still have hard feelings and that's understandable. I mean, there's been a weird relationship that's going on now," said Canadian fan Silas.

Trade frictions between the U.S. and Canada, along with Trump's comments about making Canada "the 51st state," have turned many Canadians against their southern neighbor. A growing number are now steering clear of U.S. travel.

Data from Statistics Canada shows the number of Canadian residents visiting the U.S. dropped roughly 25 percent last year compared with the previous year.

However, many Canadian fans are willing to put politics aside for the sake of the world's biggest sporting event.

"It is a dilemma, but, sport tends to unite us. It brings us together and I think the World Cup is doing that," said Brad, a Canadian fan.

"It might be a problem any other day, but, this kind of transcends all that and I'm not worried about that at all," said another fan named Jeff.

Canadian fans face dilemma as World Cup knockouts move to U.S.